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The Federalist was not the basis for the Constitution it was the other way around. Nevertheless the actual electorate at the time was tiny compared to today and even though composed of the more educated classes still had a small proportion which could understand the constitution.

Like the Bible it has had thousands of books written attempting to explain it. Parts are still in controversy with distinguished jurists and scholars often taking opposite sides of an issue.

Though Hamilton is routinely and alsely accused of being anti-democratic, he was the most widely read author of his era writing hundreds if not thousands of newspaper articles specifically to reach the "masses." His "democratic" opponents, Madison and Jefferson, wrote almost nothing in comparison which was directed at the common people.